Maymont welcomes two new baby porcupines as Richmond’s latest residents

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Maymont has welcomed two female porcupettes -- AKA baby porcupines -- as the Richmond park's latest animal residents.

According to a release from the park, this prickly pair "are real extroverts," spending the last few weeks exploring and settling in to their specially designed nursery room.

“We are delighted to provide a forever home to these adorable porcupettes as they grow into their roles as animal ambassadors at Maymont,” said Parke Richeson, Maymont President & CEO. “Porcupines were once native to Virginia, until habitat loss and hunting depleted their numbers in the mid-1800s. They are beginning to return to our region, but are still very rare to see.”

According to Maymont, the porcupines were born in Michigan in May and needed a new home after they were weaned because of their difficulties surviving in the wild.

(Courtesy of Maymont)

(Courtesy of Maymont)

(Courtesy of Maymont)

(Courtesy of Maymont)

(Courtesy of Maymont)

(Courtesy of Maymont)

(Courtesy of Maymont)

(Courtesy of Maymont)

One of the porcupettes was named "Sandy" by a Maymont donor, but the other is still in need of a name. The park is inviting donors to submit name suggestions between now and Aug. 17. Four names will be put to a community vote during the week of Aug. 22 to Aug. 28.

The pair will make their debut to the public on Friday, July 25 -- viewable behind large nursery room windows. They will move into an outdoor habitat built specially for them -- along the Virginia Wildlife Trail -- once renovations are complete in 2026.